Highland Legends 04 - Captive Highlander (25 page)

“Katie?” Keith Blackburn walked
out of the shadows and gave her a sound hug.

“Keith, what is going on?”

“When Rannoch discovered you
missing, your father and I contrived a story to point the blame at me. In this
way, Rannoch would not suspect that Ian lived or that you had left the keep. I
have been hiding here waiting for your return.” He looked around the gloomy
dungeon. “I believe I ken why Ian didna like it so much. The days I have spent here
almost made me want to go and show myself.”

“I am glad you did not.”

Keith gawked at Asilinn then
knelt before her. “Lady Asilinn,” he murmured. “I am in your debt.”

“We have met before,” Asilinn
said. “Rise,” she ordered. “There is no time for formalities. You must help us
secure the Blackburns before Ian and Jared arrive with an army to rout
Rannoch.”

“Praise God,” Keith muttered.
“Just tell me what you need me to do.”

Asilinn smiled. “We need to speak
with Laird Blackburn. I must tell him of the plans for the attack.” She turned
to Katie. “You must find Tessa and Jamie and find out what has transpired in
your absence. Can you do this while Keith takes me to your father?”

“Aye,” Katie responded, “But what
of Brianna?”

Asilinn let out a sigh. “We will
have a better idea of what to do about Brianna once we talk to your family.”

“I dinna like it,” Katie
objected.

“Nor do I, but I feel we have no
choice. If it is any solace, I dinna think Rannoch will harm Brianna. She is
too valuable to him alive. If the marriage takes place, she will be his claim
to your father’s lands.”

Chapter 31

Katie watched Keith lead Asilinn
off in the direction of her father’s chamber. Crossing herself and sending a
prayer heavenward, she headed out to find Jamie. She had no doubts about him or
Tessa. Katie must speak with them first to see what had been happening with
Brianna.

It seemed odd to be sneaking
around in the castle that had been her home for all her life. If Rannoch caught
her, there would be hell to pay. Ducking down a little used hallway, Katie made
her way to Jamie’s room. She rapped lightly on the door and Jamie opened it
with nothing on save a plaid wrapped around his loins.

“Katie, how did you get here?” he
asked as he embraced her. “Are there others with you? Have you come to free
us?”

“Asilinn MacLean is with me. She
and Keith have gone to speak with father.”

“I’m glad Keith found you.” Jamie
ran his hand through his hair and turned from her. “There is something I must
tell you,” he said as he slowly faced her.

“There are many things you must
tell me,” Katie interrupted, “but my time is short. Ian and Jared gather an
army to attack the castle. Timing will be the key to our deliverance.”

“Tessa was right.”

“Aye, where is Brianna? Is she
with us or against us?”

Jamie hung his head. “She has
allowed Rannoch certain liberties and now she fancies herself in love with
him.”

Katie grabbed his arm. “What
liberties? Has he taken her?”

“Brianna denies their actual
union, but they have come close. Rannoch came to father to ask his permission
and told him of his conquests with our sister.” Jamie let his breath out in a
rush. “Father, Tessa, and I have convinced Brianna to sequester herself from
him until the wedding. We told her father would approve their marriage and
wanted her to go to the marriage bed a virgin. She sequestered herself in old
north tower.”

“And Rannoch hasna visited her
there?”

He shook his head. “Nay, he says
he will respect her wishes and wait for their wedding day. He has quite the
celebration planned. Will the clansmen arrive before the marriage takes place?”

“I pray so,” Katie said.

“I canna believe Jared MacLean
and Ian let you and Asilinn come alone.” He studied her face. “They dinna ken
you have come do they?”

“Nay, they forbade it. Asilinn
felt otherwise and she and I are here.”

“You should have listened to
them. Now you place yourself in danger. Rannoch hates you for what you have
done. If he finds you, he will kill you. He has a Blackburn to marry. He doesna
need you anymore.”

“Who tells you these things?” She
gazed at Jamie. “Are you still getting lessons from the Red Witch?”

Jamie blanched at her comment.
“Aye,” he finally said. “’Tis what I was going to tell you. I am expecting her
at any moment.”

Shaking her head, Katie held her
temper in check. “Well, you must continue with your plan. I dinna want her to
get suspicious. I will go to Tessa. We must time your disappearance so that
Rannoch wilna be suspicious. As soon as we ken the men have arrived, we will
decide the final plan.”

“I have already decided my final
plan. I will fight with Ian and Jared.”

“Jamie, you are our father’s
heir. You must be safe. I will hear no more of this.” Heading for the door,
Katie turned to face him. “Please tell me you havena betrayed your family by
telling Sorcha of our plans.”

“I would never do that, but I
dinna think she is as evil as everyone believes.”

“Your cock rules you brain as far
as Sorcha is concerned,” Katie rasped. “How could you join with her? She tried
to kill father by poisoning him slowly for months.”

Jamie’s face flushed red. “Or
perchance she convinced Rannoch to keep him alive rather than kill him
outright. You dinna ken Sorcha the way I do.”

“I should hope not,” Katie
snapped. “I leave you now to rut with your Red Witch.” With that, she flew from
his chamber and hurried down the hallway to find Tessa.

Asilinn and Keith reached Laird
Brian Blackburn’s chamber without discovery. Plans for the wedding kept the
guards occupied at other stations. Apparently, Rannoch did not fear Laird Brian
in his current state and had sent his men elsewhere. The chamber had not
changed much since the last time Asilinn entered it the last time. It contained
the same opulent bedding and ornate furniture. If she closed her eyes, she
could still see Katherine Blackburn straining to give life to Tessa. Sweat
dripped from Katherine’s brow. She ripped at the bedding as contraction after
contraction racked her body. Blood oozed out onto the sheeting, but not the
child.

Asilinn had given birth to her
own son just a year earlier. The sight before her tore at her heart. The child
was breach and despite Katherine’s best efforts, her labor did not progress.
Katherine Blackburn had been at this for some time. A lesser woman would
already be dead. When Asilinn arrived, it was too late.

Katherine took one look into
Asilinn’s eyes and saw the truth. “Leave us,” she ordered. “I need to be alone
with Asilinn.”

No one wanted to obey, but they
all did, especially when Asilinn agreed. “Aye, so. Leave us and I will see what
I can do.”

When the door closed, Katherine
took Asilinn’s hand. “You must save the baby,” she whispered through parched
lips. “I ken you canna save us both. I have lived and loved. I have no regrets.
Save my child.” Her words cut off as another contraction grabbed her body with
unrelenting insistence. Asilinn watched the new life inside Katherine try to
push out of her. Her abdomen rose as the babe fought to be free of its dying
mother. “Asilinn, you must do it now. Cut the babe out of me before the child
dies with me.” Katherine’s eyes lit in her pale face. “Free the child and let
me see the babe once before I die.”

Nodding, Asilinn grabbed her
dirk. She sliced open Katherine’s belly and pulled forth a child the likes of
which she had never seen before. As soon as she touched Tessa, she felt the
infant’s power. Her head bore a coating of hair so white-blonde the blood
colored it pink. Little Tessa struggled and gurgled, finally drawing a deep
breath, but no birthing cry rose from the infant. “A fine little girl,” Asilinn
said, showing the infant to Katherine.

“We shall call her Tessa after my
mother,” Katherine whispered. “Asilinn, I would have her marry your son. Please
tell me you agree. Only your family can keep her safe. I canna explain it. I
just feel….” Katherine broke off as pain racked her body.

“It will be so.” Asilinn placed
the little girl in Katherine’s arms. As soon as the babe touched her mother,
the tiny infant let out a resounding cry. Suddenly a gush of bright red blood
flowed onto the sheets and Katherine went limp. Searching for a pulse, Asilinn
felt Katherine slip away from them. She picked up the tiny babe just as Brian
Blackburn flew back into the room and stared stone-faced at his beloved wife.

“I’m sorry,” Asilinn murmured.
“She bade me save the child. I couldna save Lady Katherine.”

Brian collapsed on his wife’s
ruined body sobbing uncontrollably. Asilinn walked slowly from the room
clutching little Tessa to her chest.

“Lady Asilinn,” Laird Blackburn’s
voice brought Asilinn back from the untimely vision. “You have come to help
us.”

Walking close to the bed, Asilinn
took Brian Blackburn’s hand. “Aye, Jared and Ian will be here soon with an army
to defeat Rannoch.”

“Your father?”

“He survived. He will live his
life in a different way now, but he is with us.”

“Thank God,” Brian said. He
squeezed her hand. “You were remembering, weren’t you… the night Tessa came
to us… the night we lost Katherine.” He sighed. “I could tell by your
expression.”

Asilinn nodded feeling his eyes
on her. “I am sorry about the way things turned out.”

“’Twas not your fault, Asilinn.
Were it not for you, Tessa may also have died. “

“I am still sorry.” She drew a
deep breath and let it out. “But let us get to you. Can you walk… move at
all?”

“I have improved greatly since
Sorcha cut back her dose… and then my little Tessa replaced her poison potion
with water. I can speak and move a little. That is all.” He grasped her hand.
“Asilinn we will do what it takes to aid our rescuers.” He looked around his
chamber. “Where are Jamie, Katie, and Tessa? I ken we must leave Brianna to her
fate. Where are the others?”

“Katie went to find Jamie and
Tessa. When the time is right, we will determine the final plan. Much depends
on when Jared and Ian arrive with the troops.”

“What of Brianna?” Brian asked.
“Will they arrive before the bastard takes her for his wife?”

Asilinn nodded. “That is our
hope. They will come through the cave and attack just after dark tomorrow.
Until then, we are on our own.”

“Sorcha will check on me,
perchance even Rannoch will come by as he prepares to marry my daughter. We
must be careful in our plan.”

“Aye, so,” Asilinn agreed.

“I dinna like it,” Keith
grumbled. “Why can’t we hide the family before the attack?”

“Keith, you and I will stay
close, but if any of the family goes missing now, Rannoch will be warned.” She
put a hand on Keith’s arm. “I ken it is hard for you.”

“Keith, you must trust Asilinn’s
judgment in these things. I wilna have the men who come to our rescue
threatened by our lack of courage.”

Keith nodded his assent and went
to stand near the door.

Asilinn took a small pouch from
her belt and went over to Sorcha’s medicine table. “Laird Blackburn, I have
some potions of my own,” she said over her shoulder. “Once I mix this up, I
think ‘twill improve your ability to move… most likely just in time for the
wedding.”

Brian smiled.

Brianna had never felt so alone.
Her thoughts and dreams centered on Rowan Rannoch and the feelings he awakened
in her. Why did she need to stay in this dreary tower? But her father was right
about the sequestration. Rowan entranced her in a way she had never experienced
before. Left to her own devices she would have begged him to take her. Surely,
she could wait one more night. Tomorrow evening she would be his. Her heart
throbbed in anticipation. She would be a virgin bride and that would please her
father. Brianna seldom got his approval.

A sound outside the door drew her
attention. “Brianna,” Tessa’s voice called. “Unlock the door. I brought you
some dinner.”

Brianna let her little sister in
the tower chamber. Tessa carried a basket and the fine aroma of chicken and
fresh baked bread swirled through the air. “A feast.”

“Aye, of sorts. I thought we
could share a small repast. I ken ‘tis not easy for you to be separate from
Rowan.”

“At this time tomorrow, I will be
his wife,” Brianna said. “I love him, Tessa. And he loves me.”

“I pray that is so,” Tessa
responded. Sitting next to Brianna on the bed, Tessa began arranging two plates
of food. “Rowan has made plans for a wedding feast. Of course, ‘twill be
difficult for father to attend.”

“He must. I would have the whole
family see me take my vows and celebrate my marriage.” Brianna looked at her
younger sister. “Does that trouble you?”

“I wish Katie were here to share
in the happy occasion with us,” Tessa said.

“Katie wouldna approve. Rowan
thinks Katie is here hiding somewhere in the castle. Even if she is here, she
wilna come. This is something I must live with.”

“Does Rowan ken you want father
at the wedding?”

“Aye, we discussed it. He is
eager to have him there as well.” Brianna snatched a piece of roasted chicken
and took a bite. “This is delicious,” she said. Hugging Tessa, she smiled.
“Thank you for being a true sister to me in my hour of need.”

Tessa’s blue-violet eyes swept
over her. “I am your true sister, and I will always be here for you. No matter
what fate may befall any of us.”

Brianna laughed. “Oh, Tessa, you
are always such a dark, little prophet. Whatever fate may befall us? You make
it sound as if we are all about to die. We will be celebrating my wedding.”

Tessa smiled. “Aye, a wedding to
remember,” she said.